Yankees’ Brett Gardner, Martin Prado and Stephen Drew clear waivers

It’s been another 10 games for the New York Yankees, and yet another chunk of average play by the bombers (5-5 in last 10). At this point, it seems a major miracle would be necessary for this team to gather the pieces needed to make a run for Derek Jeter in his last season. Today, three Yankees cleared waivers: Brett Gardner, Martin Prado and Stephen Drew.

Both Prado and Drew were acquired prior to the non-waiver trade-deadline, according to CBS Sports.

Gardner has arguably been the best Yankee in 2014. He’s smashed a surprising 15 HR’s and 50 RBI while hitting .286 and swiping 18 bags. Where it gets dicey for Gardner though, is that he starts out a four-year extension next season worth $52 million.

So, now that these three have cleared, they’re all eligible to be traded. It is very hard to imagine general manager Brian Cashman moving any of them, though. However, if the right package comes around and the Yanks look towards the future, then the possibility becomes stronger.

One player that did not make it through waivers was lefty-reliever Matt Thornton as we was claimed by the Washington nationals today. Thornton has been solid this season as he sports a 2.55 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. The glass-half-full approach is that the claim saves the Yankees around $4 million this season and $3.5 in 2015.

Tanaka throws for first time since injury:

For all of the hopes and dreams some Yankees’ fans might have on a 2014 postseason, none of it will be possible without the return of ace Masahiro Tanaka. On Monday, Tanaka took the first-step in his possible 2014 comeback, throwing 25 pitches on flat ground from regulation pitching distance, according to CSN Baltimore.